The Valley Of Baca: A Record Of Suffering And Triumph

Cincinnati, OH: Hitchcock and Walden. Very Good. 1878. Early printing. Hardcover. B&W Illustrations; (possibly third printing) This book is in Very Good condition and was likely issued without a dust jacket. The book and its contents are in generally clean, bright condition. The spine ends, corners and edges of the book have some light bumping, rubbing and fraying. The spine joints of the book have some rubbing and wear. There is some generalized rubbing and ground-in dirt to the covers. The text pages are mostly clean and bright. The tissue guard on the frontispiece has been torn off. "In 1857 Smith's father's health and business failed. In attempt to help her family Jennie helped bring in a load of hay and got a severe back injury. Within days she came down with Typhoid fever. He damaged spine worsened and she could no longer even get out of bed for the next six months. Her father's health continued to fail and at one point he attempted suicide. Coming under conviction he gave his life to Christ and died within three months. Unfortunately upon his death the family was left destitute and all their belongings had to be sold to live. Smith recovered her health to a degree, but within a few months collapsed once more becoming an invalid for the next 18 months. The next several years were a repeat of improvement and collapse. She regularly had seizures and her eyesight became very bad. In 1862 Smith collapsed once more and came close to death. She had a sense of heaven but felt called upon to bring others into the kingdom. During these years Smith an avid reader of Holiness and religious books, including Asa Mahan's "Baptism of the Holy Spirit". She attended several camp meetings where she described being overwhelmed by the power of the Spirit. In 1872 Smith attended a "Higher Christian Life" meeting led by William and Mary Boardman. Lucy Drake, who had been healed under the ministry of Charles Cullis, also spoke. There is no record that Smith receiving healing prayer, although she was impacted by Lucy Drake's testimony. She said later in her life that Drake visited her and gave her books to read. Smith felt called to begin writing the story of her life and God's providence in taking care of her. She began journaling what would eventually turn into her first book. In the spring of 1873 God began to put it on people's hearts that she should be healed. She attended a prayer meeting where several women prayed for her. She did not receive total healing but her seizures improved from that time on. In 1875 Smith was prayed for again and saw some improvement in her health and significant improvement in her eyesight. In 1876 "Valley of Baca" was published. The Valley of Baca was a biblical reference meaning a place of drought, weeping, or suffering. Although her aim was the testimony of God's remarkable provision and care, the book included long descriptions of her ill health, and the ill health of her family. " [Jones (Guide to the Study of the Holiness Movement) .